Club for young people in battle for survival

28/10/2011'The Go For It club at Longdean Sportspace, Hemel Hempstead needs funding.

Published:15:00Saturday 17 March 2012

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A BOOMING youth club that is fighting for survival after funding cutbacks needs to find another £500 to run its full programme for the Easter holidays.

The Go 4 It club, launched three years ago and based at Longdean Sportspace in Rumballs Road, Hemel Hempstead, now has more than 500 children on its database.

Project leader Emma Carder, who now gives up her time for free following the scrapping of cash through the extended schools scheme, said: “We literally had five children come down at the start and then we were driving around the local shops to tell kids about it – literally pulling them off the streets. The whole idea is to give them something to do over the holidays.

“Having a club like this is really, really important, it gives them a mixture from art to street dance.”

The club, used by youngsters aged from 10 to 16, has already managed to scrape together £500, thanks to cash pledges from county councillors using their locality budgets.

And young club users are getting involved too, planning a sponsored bounce in May.

Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning recently visited the club and gave it his backing. He said: “It is great for young people to have something exciting to go to during the holidays. Clubs such as this are an essential part of our community and are of great benefit to those who go along.”

More cash will need to be found to allow the club to run during other school holidays and the prospect of Lottery funding is being explored.

If you can help email longdeango4it@gmail.com

> The Easter holiday club will run from 11am to 3pm on April 2 to 5 and April 10 to 13. Prices start from £2 per day.